Son of Mumbai rickshaw driver scores record 652* in inter-school match

Can you imagine a cricketer scoring a triple century with a broken bat? If that is hard to believe, there is even more reason for you to be astounded. He changed his bat and went on to score an unbeaten 652.

Pranav Dhanawade poses with the scoreboard in Kalyan after ending up with an unbeaten 652

Pranav Dhanawade, the son of a Kalyan auto-rickshaw driver, batted his way into the record books with his epic innings for KC Gandhi English School, Kalyan against Arya Gurukul High School in the HT Bhandari under-16 inter-school tournament organised by Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) at Kalyan Municipal Corporation ground in Wayale Nagar, Kalyan yesterday.

According to ace statistician Mohandas Menon, Pranav's 652* is the highest individual score in any class of cricket. KC Gandhi bowled out Arya Gurukul for a mere 31 thanks to a fine display by pacer Chinmay Patil, who claimed a fifer and left-arm spinner Sahil Shetty, who sent back two batsmen.

Thereafter, it was 15-year-old Pranav all the way. He hit 70 fours and 30 sixes during his 199-ball 652. Pranav was part of a 540-run opening stand with Aakash Singh (173) before he put on 416 with Siddhesh Patil (100 not out) for the second wicket. The team scored 956-1.

Broken bat"My highest score this season was 80 which I scored against Thane's Sri Ma Vidyalaya in my last match so I just wanted to cross the three-figure mark. I was not thinking about any record. As the toe-end of my bat had a crack, I tried to middle the ball and hit it towards the boundary," the Class X student told mid-day.

While Pranav was slaying the Arya Gurukul bowling, his 43-year-old father Prashant was driving his auto-rickshaw in Kalyan. Prashant was informed of his son's triple century effort by a friend. "I couldn't believe it so I went to the ground and watched his full innings," said Prashant.

Mobin's a proud coachPranav started playing cricket under the guidance of Mobin Shaikh, the former 'A' division club cricketer, who served Rajasthan Sports Club for several years. "Pranav is a fearless cricketer. Apart from an opening batsman, he is a very good wicketkeeper and likes playing attacking cricket," said Shaikh.

Pranav enjoyed his share of luck. He was dropped at long-off when he had passed 200 and then on 350. "I was tired and lost concentration on a few occasions. After my second chance, I change my bat. My teammates gave me glucose water and urged me to carry on," revealed Pranav who also represented MIG Cricket Club at the under-14 level.